Letter to the members of Preserve Educational Choice (PEC) from the Faculty

March 16, 2007

PEC Members:

We, the undersigned faculty members, want to reassure you that we understand, respect, and honor the principles upon which R-MWC was founded. We also acknowledge the many wonderful attributes of our College that must be preserved and enriched in this new environment. We have heard your voices and appreciate your care and concern for the College.

We like to think that much of our work here at R-MWC is about community building, and we regret that the new strategic direction has placed some members of our community at odds with one another. The decision to go co-ed has been made and, as educators, we are eager to focus our energies on educating current and future generations of students. The task ahead is to continue to attract motivated students and provide them with opportunities for intellectual exploration in a liberal arts environment. We will be as committed to the incoming class of 2011 as we are committed to ongoing relationships with you and all those students who have gone before you. Such relationships lie at the heart of the R-MWC community.

Students have always come first at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and they will continue to come first at Randolph College. Our doors will always be open to both current students and returning alumnae. It is our hope that you will come to realize that we remain committed to providing an enriching and challenging liberal arts education for our students. Additionally, we assure you that this will always be a college that will support the education of women and women’s issues.

While the faculty understands there is still anger and hurt, we are in agreement that the lawsuits being filed against R-MWC cannot achieve anything positive or anything that could further the mission of the College. Moreover, such efforts only punish the current faculty, staff and students, no matter who the intended target may be. We ask for your support as we work together to provide the best possible education while honoring the traditions of R-MWC. We will maintain our core values as we move into the future as Randolph College.

Respectfully,

Kathy Schaefer
Jennifer Abbassi
Thomas W. Stephens
Karin Warren
Mara Amster
Carla Heath
Rick Barnes
Dennis Goff
David T. Schwartz
William A. Mattson
Patricia DeMars
Elizabeth Perry
Heidi M. Kunz
Jaymes Anne Rohrer
Peggy Schimmoeller
Ann M. Fabirkiewicz
John Justice
Dan Raessler
Lisa Lee Broughman
Tatiana Toteva
Heather Somers
Beth Schwartz
Peter Sheldon
Linda Jack
Theodore J. Hostetler
Ann E. Coulter
Pamela Risenhoover
Gail F. Brown
Gerald Sherayko
John d’Entremont
Bradley Geisert
Nancy Goulde
Leland M. Coxe
Marjorie Wheeler-Barclay
Jennifer Gauthier
Sally S. Story
Gordon Steffey
William D. Bare
John Abell
Kristen Bliss
Amy Cohen
Mari Ishibashi
Ellen Hostetter
Maria Vazquez-Castro
Douglas Shedd
Randall Speer
Laura-Gray Street
Valerie J. Cushman
Melissa Olivia Wiggins
Holly E. Tatum
YiShan Lea
Klawa Thresher
Marc Ordower
Brad Bullock
Hermina Hendricks